Your Questions Answered: How Do We Reach the Nations and Our Children?

posted by Navigators on November 6th, 2026 in Culture | Discipleship | Generations | Joy | Your Questions Answered

Kendrea Dibden is part of our Sydney Labouring Community, alongside her husband, Owen. Together, they minister to their children, in their workplaces and within their social circles. We asked Kendrea the question: How do we reach the nations and our children?

As we seek to joyfully advance the gospel into the nations, it is incredibly vital that we as parents do not overlook how we might reach the nations within our own homes. If we want to be and to raise disciples and disciple-makers, it is so important that we intentionally shape our family culture to mirror Kingdom culture and God’s heart for the nations. Providing our children with an environment built on joy in the gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom sets them on a firm foundation for the Spirit to use in developing their own personal faith, in hopes that they would also impact the nations for the gospel. While this is complex in implementation, I would argue there are some key principles and practices that can aid us in intentionally shaping our family culture.

Firstly, if we, as parents, are to create a culture that desires the Lord, has a heart for the nations, steadfast joy and seeks His Will above all else, we must first desire the very same in our own hearts.

Secondly, our own love and desire for the Lord and His Word, and how that impacts our decisions and choices, must be visible and explicitly named through the use of the Scriptures.

Thirdly, your children’s contributions will shape your family culture as well. Including them in the process of making God-centred decisions recognises their dignity and value as a child of God, and helps them to think more deeply about the impact of their choices.

Finally, every aspect and season must be drenched in prayer. Your children’s hearts are in the hands of the Lord. We have the joy of labouring and praying in hope that the Lord would use their lives and hearts as well as ours, for His glory, into the nations.

‘And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children …’
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV

_{Featured image: silhouette of a child reading, original photo by Aaron Burden, Unsplash.}